“Yeah,” Lulu replied. “He came to meet me in Sunny City.
Remembering Zachary’s miserable state, Abigail told her, ” Did you know that he was piss drunk last night? I’ve never seen him so miserable, and it honestly hurts me to see him like that…”
As Lulu became quiet, Abigail remembered that no one should be meddling with a couple’s relationship, but she felt injustice for Zachary regardless.
“Do you really not love him anymore?”
She decided that she would not say a thing if Lulu had a new lover, but if that was not the case, she was sure that they should be sitting down and having a proper talk instead. Leaving things unresolved would only leave them both hating!
As Lulu stayed silent, Abigail considered the circumstances and said, “Can I take your silence as admission, Lulu? Look, I’d never poke my nose in your affairs, but I’d really like to know what this is actually about. Why do you have to hide it from Zachary? Why can’t you tell him?
“Abigail…”
Lulu had no idea where to start, just as she had trouble spilling her guts.
Nonetheless, Abigail was very patient and did not rush Lulu -she knew that Lulu needed time, and afforded her silence even as the clock on the wall ticked away.
“Abigail… I’m sure you know that Zachary comes from riches, and there is a clear gap in our statuses. His mother actually approached me when she found out about our relationship-”
“And she told you to break up with him?” Abigail asked. ” Using money to coerce you, like they do on TV?”
She was naturally aware that Zachary’s family was a dynasty of its own.
“What are you talking about? Of course not!”
Lulu had been downtrodden at first, but Abigail’s urging somehow made her relieved.
“Look,” she explained, “all she said was that she hopes for Zachary’s future wife to be someone who can actually help him. She favors the daughter of Centric United’s CEO, and that woman is definitely an ideal support for Zachary with her family influence.”
“She told me in confidence that Zachary’s father actually has a mistress, who also had a son. That boy clearly wants to be the family’s heir, and Zachary never liked family conflict. That’s why Zachary’s mother is worried that the mistress and her son will take over everything, and she needs a daughter–in–law with influence to keep them at bay.”
“Naturally, that would never be me–my father is an average Joe and my mother recently passed away from stomach cancer. I myself am a measly forensic doctor, and I’d never be able to help Zachary in any way if I stayed with him. I don’t want things to get unpleasant between him and his mother, which is why I can’t tell him anything. I’m sure she loves him–that’s why she worries so much about his future… Do you understand me?”
Abigail had no idea, and was left confused as well—she would not know what to do if that happened to her either. Lulu had her own perspective and considerations, and it was not to say that she was being unreasonable.
That being said, were those two decisions made for Zachary’s sake in the name of love… ideal for the man himself?
Abigail believed that Zachary’s own decision would be ideal in this situation. However, she was not personally involved in the matter, and she certainly should not tell Zachary without Abigail’s permission…
“Okay, I understand. I won’t tell Zachary–this is something you have to resolve among yourselves.”
“There’s nothing to resolve,” Lulu replied. “It’ll all be over once Zachary gives up on me.”
“What about you?” Abigail asked, because she knew that Lulu was still in love with Zacahry.
“I’ll give up on him too, and find someone better… Get married, have children, and enjoy an ordinary life.”
She and Zachary were ultimately from different worlds.
Somehow, that made Abigail remember the difference between herself and Diarmuid.
She became even more determined to get a divorce right then because of that!
“Is Tommy doing fine?” she asked then.
“I’ll send you a video after the call,” Lulu replied.
Abigail pursed her lips. “I really don’t know what to say…”
“I’m fine.”
“Oh, save this number–it’s mine. Just give me a shout if you need me.”
“Okay.”
With that, they hung up, and Lulu quickly sent Abigail a video of Tommy.
It had only been days, but the infant was plumper already.
Abigail’s gaze was filled with tenderness as she watched. She wanted to hold him in her arms, and the thought that she could not be there left her melancholic.
Harvey arrived enthusiastically at Light Group’s offices with his painting, only to spot Diarmuid having a meeting with Mr. Layton.
Mr. Layton was the the partner whom Diarmuid had poached from Harvey, and after spending so much time and effort just to bring Mr. Layton to the negotiation table, Harvey suddenly became depressed despite having swindled Diarmuid for millions. After all, the partnership with Mr. Layton was potentially worth over a hundred million!
Now, he realized that Diarmuid had more than enough reason to throw away all that money just for the partnership he had poached from Harvey!
“Mr. Gooding.” Stan approached him just then. “Mr. Althoff has asked me to get the painting from you.”
Harvey snapped, “Pay up first!”
Stan took his annoyance in stride. “Of course. Please allow me to verify the painting.”
Harvey did so, and after ensuring that it was the right painting, Stan led him to the finance department… where Harvey flipped out!
“What the hell is this?!”
“It’s the amount Mr. Althoff told us to prepare,” Stan said.
Harvey was fuming. How did 70 million dollars end up as 21 million dollars?! Diarmuid was clearly reneging!
He stormed off to look for Diarmuid to argue his case, and Diarmuid just happened to finish his discussion with Mr.Layton.
Mr. Layton flashed an awkward smile when he saw Harvey, and left without even a greeting. Still, he was clearly set on a partnership with Diarmuid than Harvey anyway.
Harvey did not leave him with any harsh remarks, since no agreement was actually signed and calling it off beforehand was not reneging. They were all business people, and making things awkward for one another was unnecessary.
And Harvey was a man who could see the bigger picture.
After Mr. Layton was out of earshot, he finally spoke, Are you breaking the deal, Mr. Althoff?”
Diarmuid simply turned and headed back to his office, so Harvey followed him, snapping relentlessly, “You made the bid yourself! So why are you paying me only 21
million dollars?!”
Behind them, Stan was left gaping at the portrait he was holding, and then at Harvey…
Was that man really complaining that he got 21 million for this?!
He also had no idea why Diarmuid would spend so much to buy that when it was hardly worth that much!
Meanwhile, Diarmuid sat behind his desk, loosening his collar, and looked up at Harvey. “Weren’t you splitting the money with Abigail Bernstein? If I recall, 30 percent was what you said of course, I’ll pay her myself. Do you take issue with the fact that I did not pay you the full amount?
Harvey was left speechless.
“No…” He tried to argue.
He had been feeling proud that the art exhibition he had gone through great lengths to put together had somehow benefited Abigail as well…
So how could he let Diarmuid be the nice guy here?
Moreover, would not Abigail think better of Diarmuid when he gives her the money, while Harvey himself somehow ended up as a father buying a dowry?!
It was unpleasant just thinking about it!
“It’s 30 percent Abigail, 70 percent me,” he tried to argue he could not care less about anything else just then, because he deserved that 49 million!
However, Diarmuid was not about to play along. “I’m paying, and I therefore call the shots. You could just forfeit my payment if you think it’s not good enough for you.”
Harvey was once again speechless.
What on earth was that reasoning?! Diarmuid was killing him!
Still, he took a moment to compose himself–he realized then that never got the drop on Diarmuid before, given the man’s cunning nature.
From that perspective, 21 million was better than nothing.
“My project is suspended and I’m losing more money by the day because you ratted me out. My hundred million dollar partnership with Mr. Layton fell through because you poached him. Sure, I admit that you’re better and that’s inevitably the key to winning in business, but don’t get so smug, Diarmuid. I know what others don’t–Abigail Bernstein is your secret wife, isn’t she?”
Diarmuid stayed impassive as if he never heard Harvey, and calmly opened a file folder to read.
However, there was a storm brewing inside him.
Abigail told Harvey about them?
His heart sank!
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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